Today’s Headlines: Diabetes, Cigarettes, and Angry Doctors

CDC: More and More People Diagnosed With Diabetes: Today, the CDC announced that the diabetes problem is getting worse “among all age groups, both sexes, and all racial/ethnic groups.” The increased rate of diabetes diagnoses is highest in Southern and Appalachian states “because of the greater prevalence of risk factors for diabetes (e.g., obesity and sedentary lifestyle), [and] a larger portion of African-American ancestry in the population.” However, the CDC does note that the increase in those who have diabetes in the US may also be attributed to the improvement of diabetes management and a decrease in diabetes-related deaths. (CDC)

More US Physicians Dissatisfied With Health-care System Than International Peers: “Doctors in the United States were more likely to report problems with the country’s health-care system than were their international peers in a new 2012 survey.” The survey, out of the Commonwealth Fund, found that “just 15% of US primary-care physicians say the health-care system works well and only needs minor changes,” as compared to “61% in Norway, 54% in the Netherlands and 37% in France saying the health-care system works well.” (The Hill)

Study: Smoking Bans Reduce Number of Strokes, Heart Attacks: “Smoking bans quickly and dramatically cut the number of people hospitalized for heart attacks, strokes and respiratory diseases such as asthma and emphysema.” Researchers found that “heart attack hospitalizations fell an average of 15% after communities passed laws banning smoking in areas such as restaurants, bars and workplaces.” (USA Today)